Royally Screwed

Chapter 6

SYLVIE

I love mornings in France.

I seriously love them. Although they might seem like every other morning: waking up early, writing in my journal about the day before, going for a jog, then coming back to shower and get ready for the day; mornings in France are different. Because here, I can eat pain au chocolat and croissants for breakfast. Can hear the people speaking the language. Can smile all day.

It's exactly how I feel as I take a sip from my coffee, looking at the sea. I decided to skip breakfast in the hotel and headed to a café instead. A selection of French pastries in a basket, together with different home-made jams. A cup of coffee, with a small nice looking crystal bowl with some whipped cream next to it.

I take a quick picture sending it to Vicky, wishing her a bonne journée.

I'm so close to calling my brother to check up on him, as something on the beach catches my attention. Better said, someone. In what seems to be an all-black outfit based on a compression shirt, short pants and some sneakers, Louis is currently running his morning laps. His abs are on display thanks to the top sticking to him like a second skin, making even an objective person like me enjoy this little spectacle. Again, objectively speaking, Louis Grayson Nathaniel West Estair-Dunn is a good looking person.

Objectively speaking.

Right as I convinced myself eyeing him out is still allowed, although I hate him, Louis catches my glance and a smirk spreads on his face. He removes the headphones from his ears and starts to jog in my direction. I immediately check if my skirt sits alright. I went for a white top, a checkered skirt in different shades of brown and some loafers. Simple, but elegant. Perfect fit for a morning.

"Good morning, Trouble", he begins, winking at me as he is standing out of breath at my side.

"Well, this certainly is a surprise", I mutter, doing my best at sounding annoyed. Which I am. I guess. It's annoying how much strength it takes me to stop myself from checking him out. "Is it your hobby to ruin everyone's mornings?"

"More of a habit", he chuckles, settling himself on the empty chair next to me at my own damn table.

"Who invited you?", I ask, making him a sign he should free the chair.

"Are you expecting someone, sweetheart?", he raises an eyebrow.

"Well, clearly I wasn't expecting you", I decide to skip his question. His loud cough makes me roll my eyes and give him an answer: "No. I was enjoying my own company."

"That's a pity", he mutters, helping himself to one croissant.

"My company?", I ask a bit offended.

"No, I can't think of anyone not enjoying your company", he replies, seeming honest.

"You dislike my company", I point out at him.

"I dislike many things, sweetheart. Your company isn't one of them."

He's only joking. I think. I actually seriously hope.

"In that case, what would you consider a pity?", I bring him back to the original topic.

"The waste of so much perfectly good food", he says, pointing at the huge basket with many pastries. "Luckily for you, I am here to help now."

"Wow, such a gentleman."

"Always", he winks at me.

I watch him take a pain au chocolat out of the basket, before carefully taking a small bite. A smile fills his face, realer than any smile I ever got out of him. Kinda makes me be jealous over a pastry for a bit. Then makes me hate myself for that thought. "You weren't kidding, Trouble. This is something else."

"Told you", I say, helping myself to a pain au chocolat. "They are the best." Something in me cools down at his appreciation for my favourite food and makes me be civil for the day. "These ones are also really good, better than at other cafés. But they still don't beat the ones in Paris."

"Paris?"

"Yeah, in Paris, there is this one coffee shop called Carette. They make the best pain au chocolat I have ever had."

He smiles nodding, as if making me a sign I should carry on. I do, for some reason. "Every time I'm in Paris, I go to Carette. I allow myself a coffee and the pain au chocolat. That would have to count as one of my favourite places in the world." I realise I might have talked too much, and that this is Louis I'm talking to, so I stop. And turn the conversation around so that it would be his turn to talk. "What about you? What is your favourite food to eat? No matter which city..."

Louis leans deeper into his chair, crossing his arms at his chest. The bits of pain au chocolat almost get stuck in my throat at the view.

"I don't know", he begins. It's then he seems to have gotten an idea, for his entire face lights up, and for once he doesn't look like a twenty-year-old man anymore, but a kid on Christmas morning. "Oh, wait. I think I know. My grandparents on my Dad's side live in New York. My Dad was also born and raised there. My Mom too comes from New York, but her parents now live in Monaco and she also spent a lot of time in Cordelia growing up. But New York has always played a huge role in my life. Every holiday, I would be there. My family is very close, so every holiday meant a huge family reunion." He smiles at the memories, and for once, I have the feeling I want to know more. More about him. "Anyway, my grandpa used to play pro hockey. He now owns his own hockey team, but he used to be a very important hockey player. We would often go to see him play. Anytime we'd go there, Dad would buy us all hot dogs. He said the experience wasn't the same without them. I guess that would be my favourite food. Even now, any time I watch a hockey game on TV, I make myself some hot dogs. Dad found out about it, so we made it to some sort of ritual. Every time there is a game, we make hot dogs and watch it together."

"That's really sweet, Louis", I find myself saying. "Truly."

He chuckles to himself again. "Thank you. I don't think I've ever told this to anyone before today. I mean, obviously my Mom knows, but nobody else."

"Thank you for sharing that with me", I say. I suddenly feel the need to reach for his hand, stop myself just in time. As if he could read my mind, Louis takes a deep breath in.

"How have you been enjoying Deauville so far?", he goes for a topic change.

"It's been great", I answer. "Feels nice taking some time off. School is really stressful right now."

"It's your senior year, Sylvie. Just think about that in few months, you're out of that place", he tries his best to encourage me. Somehow, it does work. "Any ideas what you'll do afterwards?"

"I have a world tour this Summer", I sigh. "And hopefully I'll be accepted at college by then."

"Which college do you have in mind?"

"Harvard", I blush. I really love that college.

"Politics?", he asks interested.

"Economics", I correct him.

"In that case, I guess we'll see each other more starting fall", he winks at me with a smirk.

"First of all, you are a political science major. And second of all, that is if the college decides to accept me", I reply heated.

Louis helps himself to a croissant before answering. "Well, to answer to that. I might be a politics major, but it's still Harvard. It's not like we would be miles away. And second of all, you will get there. You're one of the smartest people I know. They would have to be crazy not to take you in."

I stare at the table cloth so that he doesn't see I'm touched by what he just said. "Thank you, Louis."

"Only saying the truth, Trouble", he assures me.

That has me blushing even harder.

And for a second, I even find myself wondering what it is that I ever hated at this guy.

One second.

God, I really am in trouble.